Shock-absorbing mechanism



192 March 15 7 s. B. HASELTINE.

SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Filed April 19. 192s l fave/fai Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

U'Nirfsn stares rara NT' orifice.'

ASTACYB. HASEL'IINwE, OF CI-ICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN'OR, BYivMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

` W. H. MINER, llil'lC., A wCOlltPO'tAIZiOiN OF DELAWARE.

SHOCK-ABSORBING `MECHANISM.

`Applcation lcd April 19, "1923. -Seral NfG33-,f048.

YThis invention relates to improvements in shock absorbing` mechanisms.

Une `object of the invention is to pro vide a shock absorbing mechanism of simple, eflicient, strong and durable construction, -composed `of few parts and capa* ble of being cheaply*manufactured wherein a. plurality of longitudinally arranged, intercalated plates serve as follower-acting elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of 'the character Vindicated, in which the cushioning Ameans are enclosed 4within recesses for-med in *the `plates and housed entirely within said plates.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tandem spring shock absorbing mechanism, in `which both springs will be compressed under both draft and bui'iing strains, and fin whichfthe custon'iary intermediate stops or shoulders on the side plates or stop castings may be dispensed with, as wel-l as the customary intermediate abutment block on the drawbar yoke.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide `a tandem spring shock absorbing mechanism of the character indicated, wherein a plurality of longitudinally arranged, .intercalated plates, each provided with a pair of elongated openings, serve as the 'follower acting elements, the plates being arranged vin two sets, one set coacting in normal ,position with the rear end of the draw bar and the other with the rear end of the yoke.

Other objects vand ladvante/ges of the invention' will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawing forming .a partof this specification, Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a `railway draft rigging, taken along the inner side of one of the draft sills, showing my improvements n in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view corresponding substantially to the line '2-2 of Fig. l.

And Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the follower-acting plates.

50 In said drawing, l0-l0 denote channel shape center or draft sills of a car underframe, each of said draft sills having a front stop lug` l1 `and a rear stop lug l2 Secured to the inner. face thereof. A portion of the drawbar is tfindic-ated :at `13, and the samezis operatively connected ito aan .ordina=ry single ipocketyolre indicated tat 14,.by means of a transversely `arranged `liey 15 y extending ithronghthe draft sills and 'work- Ving in-alined fslots'itherein, one .of :saiel slots 60 being indicated in :dotted limes Ain -1F i'g. l. VThe .shock abserbing mechanism `proper is contained within l`,the yoke 14 V[and all the` vparts :are .suppontedfby a :saddle plateindicated .at 15. i

The improved shock absorbing `mechanism proper, as shown, comprises, broadly, a plurality lof followeriacting iplates A, `B,.C, D, and tandem `arranged springs The plates A, 13,30, 'D and are of rec- 70 y tangular shape .and of 4equal length. The plates A, i@ :and are alternated with lthe pilates B and lllthe ipflajtes A .and E fbeing arranged outermost ,and the :pl-ate G libeing vinterposed between the plates 'B :and D. As 75 clearly shown 1in Eig. il, the-rearen'dsiofithe plates A,LG fand abut the inner :facexl of thewrear wall ofthe yoke rand l-are adapted to coact withwthefrear .stop 'lugs i112 in :a well knownV fmanner. `The front ends of the 80 plates A, C and E-arerarranged in :spaced relation to the :frontlugs fit1, the plates being lshorter :than the .distance .between the rear and front flugs.an'famonntcorresponding to the permissible stroke of the mecha- 85 nism. "Bhe-'frontend )of .the plates B and D `normally abut-.fthe front lugs lil and the rear-end-of the fdrawlbar. iI-n Fig. lof 4the drawing, the Aplates A, B, C, Dwand E are shown .in theLpositionassu-med whe-nthe gear is in full release.

The plates A and E -al-*elo'f lkeconstruetion, preferably being exact duplicates, the samebeing arranged merely lin reverse positions lwith reference to each fot'her. 'Each 95 of the pilates A and E lis provided with a pair of longitudinally arranged, spaced, concave `recesses s18 and E19, eii'tendi-ngpartly through the same, each fof -sa-id recesses 1being provided with :front and -rearyflatfabut ment walls 20 and-21. 'The concavity of the recesses 18 and @corresponds 'in lcurvature approximately to the curvature of `the springsF ,and'FC As "clearly shown in vthe drawings, the `recesses 18 and '119 are of 105 equal length and the fron-t and rear yend walls 20 Aand 21o-f each -recessare adapted to co-act at the opposite Jends vof yone of the tandem arranged springs F and F. Between the reeesses18 and 19, and at its opposite ends, each plate A and E has the inner face thereof provided with a. longitudinally arranged rib 23, having a flat horizontal face and converging side faces. The ribs 23 project toward the axis of the gear and are adapted to engage within correspondingly shaped slots 24; in the abutting faces of the adjacent plates B and D. The ribs have their end faces in alinement with the walls 20 and 21 of the recesses 18 and 19, so as to form continuations of said walls, thereby providing abutnientvportions, for a purpose hereinafter described.

The plates yB and D areof like construction, preferably being `exact duplicates, and are arranged in reverse position. Each of the plates B and D is provided with a pair of longitudinally arranged, spaced apartopenings 25 and 26. Each opening 25 and 26 is provided with flat, front and rear, end walls 27 and 28 and longitudinally extending side walls curved on the same radius as the concave walls of the recesses 18 and 19. The front and rear end walls 27 and 28 are spaced apart a distance equalto the spacing between the walls 2O and 21 of the respective recesses 1S and 19, and are adapted to aline therewith when the plates ai'e in the position shown in Fig. 1.

The plate C is also provided with longitudinally arranged, spaced openings 29 and 30, each having a flat, front end wall 31, a flat, rear end wall 32, 'and longitudinally extendingpside walls curved vtransversely on a radius corresponding to the radius of curvature of the side walls of the openings 25 and 26 of the plates B and D and the curvature of the convex walls of the recesses 18 and 19 ofthe plates A and E. The front and rear end walls 31 and 32 of the openings 29 and 30 are also spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of the front and rear walls of the openings in the plates B and D and the walls of the recesses in the plates A and E, and are adapted to form abutments for the opposite ends of the tandem arranged springs.

As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the front and rear walls of the openings 18, 25 and 29 and the front and rear walls of the openings 19, 26 and 30 of the plates are lin alinement when the gear is in released position, thereby defining a front spring chamber G and a rear spring chamber Hrespectively, adapted to receive and house the springs F and F.

The springs F and F each consist of an outer relatively lheavy coil and an inner relatively lighter coil. `In this connection it will be noted thatv the ribs 23, on the plates A and E extend inwardly toward the axis of the gear a sufficient distance to overlap the outer portions of the inner coils F and F', whereby the transverse, vertical abutgagement of the rear ends thereof with the rear stop lugs 12. Upon rearward movement of the plates B and D, the front abutment walls 27 of the front and rear recesses thereof will approach the rear walls 21 and 32 of the plates A, E and C, thereby cornpressing the springs F and F. This rearward movement of the plates will continue until the rear ends of the plates B and D engage the stop lugs 12, whereupon the pressure will be transmitted directly through the plates A, B, C, D and E, the parts being so proportioned that the mechanism will be solid before the springs are completely compressed, thereby preventing the springs from being driven solid.

Upon the actuating pressure being relieved the springs F and F will act to restore the parts to normal position, again bringing the front and rear end walls of the recesses into ahnement.

During draft, the action is the reverse of that just described, the plates A, C and E being moved forwardly relatively to the plates B and D, which are held in fixed position by engagement with the front stop lugs 11.

It will be evident that the plates A, B, C, D and E may be very cheaply manufactured in the form of forgings or castings, and that the entire construction is exceedingly simple, especially as only three different constructions of plates are required, the plates B and D being duplicates and the plates A and E also being duplicates.

I t will also be evident that an exceedingly rigid abutment is provided by the plates when the mechanism is solid, the plates forming in effect a solid column or block, the only open space therein being that occupied bythe springs.

Although I have herein shown what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, the saine is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a vplurality of pressuretransmitting` elements having recesses therein, said elements being of equal length and alternated, and the front and rear ends of adjacent elements being staggered; of cushllO ioning means enclosed Within said recesses and opposing relative lmovement `of said elements.

2. In Aaspring shock absorbing mechanism, the combination 4with front and rear abutment means; yof :a plurality of longitudinally arranged intercalated pressure transmitting elements, Vall of `said elements lhaving the extreme end faces thereof ce-operating with said front land realI abutment means, said elements also having limited movement relative to said abutment means, the front and rear ends of said elements being arranged lin staggered relation with the lfront ends of alternate elements projecting` forwardly of the adjacent elements, `and With the .rear ends olf the latter elements projecting rearwardly beyondthe rear ends of the first named `alternate elements When the mechanism is in full release; and spring resistance means opposing relative movement of lsaid elements.

In a spring shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a plurality of longitudinally rranged, intercalated, pressuretransmitting` elements, each provided With a yplurality of spring receiving recesses; the end Walls `of the respective recesses of each plate being normally in transverse alinement with the end Walls ofthe respect-ive recesses of the remaining plates; of means for moving all of said plates relatively to each `other for-effecting relative displacement of said alined end Walls; and spring resistance means lenclosed Within said Arecesses and co-acting with the opposite end Walls thereof'.

4i. In a tandem gear, thefcombination With a plurality of pressure-transmitting elements, each provided with a `pair of openings therein, sai-d elements being alternated and arranged with the opposed end Walls of the pairs of openings of each element. in alinement with the opposed end Walls of the pairs of openings in the remaining elements, said pairs of openings being in registration; of tandem arranged cushioning means Within said openings co-acting with the end Walls thereof; and means for moving all of said elements relatively to each other.

5. In a tandem gear, the combination with front. and rear abutment means; of a plurality of longitudinally arranged intercalated pressure transmitting elements, each element having the front and rear ends thereof cooperating respectively With said front and rear abutment means to limit the longitudinal movement of said elements, adjacent elements having their frontand rear ends arranged in staggered relation when said gear is in full release position; and tandem arranged springs opposing relative movement of said elements.

6. In a tandem gear, the combination with a plurality of longitudinally arranged, intercalated, pressure-transmitting elements,

each of said elements ybeing provided lwith front, rear and intermediate abutment shoulders to form spring-.receiving chambers, corresponding shoulders of said .plates .being in alinement; of va spring resistance interposed lin lthe chamber between the frontand intermediate abutment shoulders; a second ting plates, alternate plates having their front and rear ends aligned yand adjacent plates having their frontand rear :ends staggeredivhen the gear is in full release position; of a tandem arranged spring resistance `opposing relative movement of said plates; and

front and rear steps co-operating with "the opposite ends of each of said plates to 4limit the longitudii'ial movement thereof.

8. In a tandem gear, the combinati-on ywith a drawbar, a yoke and front and rear abutments; of a plurality of longitudinally arranged relatively movable 4pressure transmitting elements, the front ends of said elements being normally alternately in abutment with and spaced from the front abutments and the inner transverse face `of the rear end of the idrayvbar, the elements liaring their front ends spaced from said front abutments being adapted to have their movement limited by engagement with said abutments upon full compression of the mechanism during draft, and the rear ends of said elements being normally alternately in abutment with and spaced from the rear abutments and the inner side of the rear end of said yoke, the elements having their rear ends spaced from said rear abutments being adapted to have their movement limited by engagement with said abutments upon full compression of the mechanism during buff; and tandem arranged springs adapted to oppose relative movement of said elements. j

9. In a tandem gear, the combination with a drawbar, a yoke, and front and rear abutments; of a group of longitudinally arranged, relatively movable pressure transmitting elements, alternate elements of said group having the front and rear ends thereof respectively spaced from the front abut-- ments and in abutment with the rear abutments, and the remaining elements having the front and rear ends thereof respectively in abutment With the front abutments and spaced from the rear abutments, said front ends and said rear ends of all of said plates being adapted to be brought respectively into alinement when the mechanism is fully compressed with the normally spaced ends thereof in abutment with the respective abutments, said elements being each provided with a pair of spring receiving recesses; and tandem arranged springs housed in said recesses and adapted to oppose relative movement of said elements.

10. In a tandem gear, the combination with a. drawbar, a yolre, and front and rear abutments; of a plurality of longitudinally arranged, relatively movable, pressure-trans mitting elements, said relatively movable elements having the front ends thereof al ternately in abutment with and spaced from the frontabutments and the innermost side of the rear end of the draivbar, and the rear ends thereof alternately in abutment with and spaced from the rear abutment-s and the inner side of the rear end of said yoke; and tandem arranged springs adapted to oppose relative movement of said elements, said yoke and elements being so proportioned and arrangedV that the opposite ends of all of said elements will sin'niltaneously abut one of said sets of abutments and one end of said yoke or rear end of said draWbar, when the gear is fully compressed, whereby said plates act as a solid abutment and prevent the springs from being driven solid.

l1. In a spring shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear abutment stops; of a plurality of longitudinally arranged, intercalated, pressure transmitting elements, having the front and rear ends thereof arranged in staggered relation; of a cushioning means opposing relative movement of said elements; and

means for effecting relative movement of said elements to bring their front ends and rear ends respectively in alinement, thereby providing a solid column load-sustaining member when the mechanism is fully compressed to prevent the cushioning means from being driven solid.

l2. In a shock absorbing mechanism7 the combination with front and rear stop means; of relatively movable longitudinally disposed pressure transmitting members, each of said members having front and rear and front intermediate and rear intermediate spring follower acting means thereon, the corresponding spring follower acting means of said members being relatively displace able during relative movement of said members; abutment means at the Iopposite ends of each of said members adapted to co-operate With the front and rear stop means; tandem arranged springs resisting relative movement of said members; and means for effecting relative movement of said members.

13. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear stops; of relatively movable pressure-transmitting members each having abutment means at the front and rear ends thereof adapted to c-o-operate with said front and rear stops respectively, each member also having front and rear spring follower acting abutments thereon: spring means for resisting movement of said members; and means for effecting relative movement rof said members.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17 th day of April, 1923.

sraor B. HasELTINE. 

